Burning witches in April, whipping legs at Easter, carp in the bathtub at Christmas — the Czech calendar is stranger than it looks.
Czech folk customs survived industrialisation, the Habsburgs and forty years of state atheism largely intact, and several of them look genuinely bizarre to a visitor arriving without warning. Here is the year, in order.
Masopust (February)
The Czech carnival before Lent — parades, masks, pig-slaughter feasts and a great deal of drinking, strongest in Moravian villages. The Hlinecko region’s processions are UNESCO-listed.
Easter and the pomlázka (March–April)
On Easter Monday, men and boys braid willow switches and lightly whip women’s legs, receiving painted eggs or a shot of spirits in return. It is meant to pass on the willow’s vitality for the year. It is entirely symbolic, it happens before noon, and it bewilders every visitor who sees it for the first time.
Burning of the Witches (30 April)
Pálení čarodějnic — bonfires across the country on Walpurgis Night, with a witch effigy on top, sausages on sticks and beer. Ladronka and Kampa are the easiest places to see it in Prague.
Kissing under the cherry tree (1 May)
The Czech lovers’ day. Couples queue at the Mácha statue on Petřín to kiss under a blossoming tree, which is said to guarantee a year of health and beauty.
Mikuláš (5 December)
St Nicholas walks the streets with an angel and a devil. Children recite a poem or sing; the good get sweets, the naughty are threatened with the devil’s sack. It is charming and mildly terrifying in equal measure, and it is entirely public — you will meet them in the street.
Christmas Eve (24 December)
Fried carp and potato salad, eaten after dark once the first star appears. Carp are sold live from tubs on the street in December, and traditionally kept in the family bathtub for a day or two beforehand. Gifts come from Ježíšek — Baby Jesus — not Santa, and Czechs are firm on this point.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Easter whipping serious?
No. It is symbolic, gentle, over by lunchtime, and increasingly debated — but still widely practised, especially in Moravia.
Who brings Christmas presents in Czechia?
Ježíšek, the Baby Jesus. Not Santa Claus, and the distinction matters to people here.
Do people really keep carp in the bathtub?
Fewer than they used to, but yes — it still happens, and every Czech has a family story about it.
Read more: St Nicholas Day, Czech Easter traditions and Christmas Eve in Prague.
Last reviewed in August 2026.
